Steam condenser controls for moving vehicles



Jan. 2, 1934. c. B. FAVERTY 1,941,885-

STEAM CONDENSER CONTROLS FOR MOVING VEHICLES Filed Jan. 5, 1951 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 2, 1934- c a-FAVERTY 1,941,885

STEAM CONDENSER CONTROLS FOR MOVING VEHICLES Filed Jan. 5, l cs-Sheet 2 Jan. 2, 1934- c. B. FAVERTY STEAM CONDENSER CONTROLS FOR MOVING VEHICLES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 5, 1951 EuJ/QUZ'OP Clyde Fay/e Patented Jan. 2 1934 PATENT OFFICE STEAM CONDENSER CONTROLS "FOR MOVING VEHICLES Clyde B. Faverty, Chicago, Ill, assignor to Ryan Car Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application January 5, 1931. Serial No. 506,596 9 Claims. (01. 251-25) My invention relates to steam condenser controls for moving vehicles and more in particular .to means for controlling the movement of air -across the cooling or heat generating surfaces of condensers. v

, Self-propelled vehicles employing steam as a primary motive power, according to the most approved developments, employ a closed or substantially closed steam system in which the steam is 10 re-condensed and fed back to the steam generating unit or units to be again converted into steam. As an example of a moving vehicle of this character, Irefer to my copending application, Serial No. 497,677, filed November 24, 1930, 1 which describes a railway draft vehicle in which steam is generated in a novel eflicient manner and employed for propelling the vehicle. The steam .is condensed after it leaves the turbine, and is returned to a water reservoir whence it is again fed into the steam generators.

-Since these vehicles are adapted to operate under all weather conditions, the problem .of withdrawing the proper amount of heat from the steam at the condensers, is a very important one.

Extremes of heat and cold are encountered and must be taken into consideration. Moreover, although complete condensation of the steam is absolutely necessary, it is not desirable to cool the condensate so as to decrease the temperature substantially below approximately 17.5 to 200 .degrees Fahrenheit. The most eflicient operation of the system is of course possible when the condensate 'is fed back to the water reservoir and from the water reservoir to the steam generators at only a few degrees below the steam or vapor temperature. r The object of my present invention is to provide .a more satisfactory control for the steam con- Idense'rs, 1 40 Another object is tocontrol the amount of air passing over the heat radiating surfaces of the condensers.

Another object is to control the movement of the air over the condenser sections, independent against the Sections thereby decreasing the .fective area thereof, or standing out at an angle,

of the direction of movement of the vehicle.

1 Another object is 'to provide adjustable and reversible wind vanes or wind scoops to control the movement of air through the condenser sections. Another object is to prov'ide such wind vanes or scoops which may be reversed from one direction of inclination to another, depending upon the direction of movement of the vehicle. Another object is the provision of wind vanes, L which may be adjusted to deflect the greatest 'wind vanes which may be controlled from the 1 wind vane,

amount of air through the condenser sections, and

which'may also be adjusted to deflect air away from such sections.

Another object is to provide wind vanes or scoops of the character described, which may be made to close against the condenser sections so as in effect to reduce the size or area thereof.

Another object is the provisionof adjustable interior of the vehicle.

Another object is the provision of a controlling system for adjustable wind vanes designed to permit the control of all of the wind vanes simultaneously.

Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevational view showing the invention appliedto a self-propelled railway car,

parts .of the vehicle being broken away to conserve space,

Fig. 2.11s a vertical transverse sectional view taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view showing some of the detail of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of the vane controlling lever'as seen from the line 4 4 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view through the condenser showing a feature of'the adjustable Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of the condenser section and showing the manner in which the adjustable vanes are controlled, and

Fig. 7 is an elevationalview partly in section,v indicating some of the positions to which the vanes can be adjusted.

According to the general features of theinvention, I provide a plurality of wind vanes pivoted in a plane parallel to the condenser sec- V tions, and close to such sections. Means is provided for moving the vanes about such pivots to adjust them to any selected position, either flat or directly vertically to the sections, whereby the air is deflected either into the sections or partially away from the sections, depending upon the direction of inclination and the direction of movement of the vehicle. I also provide longitudinal vanes closely abutting the adjustable vanes at top and bottom thereof, whereby the air is prevented under all circumstances from flowing over the ends of the adjustable vanes. There are other detailed features, which will be set forth in connection with the following detailed description.

The embodiment shown on the drawings comprises a vehicle body 10, propelled along a track 11, and supported by the usual flange wheels 12. A steam generator 13 (shown schematically) provides steam for the operation of the vehicle and the steam is delivered through suitable connections (not shown) to a header 14, whence'it is delivered to condenser sections 16, where it is condensed and the condensate delivered through suitable outlets 1'7 back to the steam generating system. Suitable means (not shown) is usually provided to control the number of sections to which the steam is fed, the number of sections employed depending on weather conditions and other factors. Fans or blowers 18, operated by motors 19, are also employed for forcibly drawing the air through the condensers 16 and forcing the same out through the top of the upper chamber 21, which houses the blower equipment. In accordance with the usual practice, these blowers or fans may be controlled individually so that all or any number of them may be used.

My controlling means, which may be employed with other adjuncts for obtaining the most satisfactory control of the condensers, includes fixed longitudinal vanes 22-22 disposed along the upper edges of the condenser sections and similar fixed vanes '23 along the bottom thereof. Adjustable and reversible vanes 2424 are disposed between the stationary longitudinal vanes. For mounting the adjustable vanes I provide pivot means, including long pintles 26. The vanes, which are preferably constructed of sheet metal, are formed to extend around the pintles 26 as shown in Fig. '7, whereby the vanes are pivoted throughout their length and all. along the side which is adjacent to the condenser sections.

For the operation and control of these adjustable vanes, I provide a transverse rocking bar 27, extending clear across the vehicle and provided with suitable journals in the upper side walls thereof. The projecting ends of the rocking bar may be connected for operation of the vanes, and

at the same time the bar may be turned for controlling purposes on the inside, and a weathertight joint provided where: the bar extends through the vehicle wall.

For controlling the movement of the bar on the inside of the vehicle, I provide a depending operating handle28 pinned or otherwise secured to the bar and adjacent the operating handle is a locking segment 29, having regularly spaced notches 31 into which a locking pin 32 controlled by a handle 33 is adapted to extend. By this means the operating handle maybe moved to any desired position along 'the locking segment 29,

i to

. side edge of the vane.

and then securely locked in its new position.

On the outside of the vehicle at each side thereof, a gear segment 34 is mounted on the projecting end of the rocking bar through aboss 36, and

this gear segment 34 meshes with a bevelled gear 37 pinned to a short shaft 38, which extends up through the longitudinal vane 23. Above the vane 23 the shaft 38 carries an operating arm 39,

i which arm is 'pivotally connected to a longitudinally disposed operating rod 41. At each vane position the operating rod 41 has an eyelet 42 engaging with a pivot pin 43 secured on the out- As Fig. 5 shows, the corner of the vane is cutaway at the point of engagement. thereby permitting extreme movement of the vanes without binding, whereby the vanes can be laid against the condenser sections as shown at 24 in Fig. '7.

In constructing the controlling mechanism, the rods 41 may consist of single long rods extending the full length of the vehicle, or they may be made up into sections. As I show in Fig. l, I prefer to mount the operating handle substantially in the center of the vehicle so that never more than one-half of the rod is subjected to a compressive strain at one time. In this way onehalf of the rod is always under a tensile strain, which has very little tendency to cause a bending thereof. This permits the rod to be made somewhat lighter than would otherwise be the case. It is understood, however, that I may modify my construction and that a number of controlling levers may be provided so that the vanes on different sections of the vehicle may have a different position.

In operating the system, any of the usual and ordinary condenser controlling means may be employed, and my adjustable vanes can be used in connection therewith. If considerable cool ing eifect is demanded by the weather conditions or other conditions of operation of the vehicle, I may slant all of my wind scoops in the direction in which the vehicle is moving, the position being controlled to deflect the maximum amount cold weather it may be desired, for instance when the vehicle is stationary, to swing the vanes against the condensers so as effectually to decrease the area thereof. There are many ways of using the vanes in connection with the operation of the fans and other accessories, but it is believed unnecessary to consider all possibilities. The operator of the vehicle learns by experience the best combination to employ. I wish to state, however, that with my adjustable vane system, a

much more flexible control of the condensers is Y possible and the operating efiiciency of the unit as a whole is greatly enhanced.

I have described my invention in detail to enable those skilled in the artto practice the same, but it is obvious that the invention is limited only by the scope of the pending claims.

What I claim as new and. desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. The combination with a movable vehicle, of

a vehicle body, steam condenser sections on the body, longitudinally disposed vanes on two sides of the sections, vanes disposed at right angles to said longitudinal vanes, and means for controlling the position of said last mentioned vanes.

2. The combination with a movable vehicle, of

a vehicle'body, steam condenser sections on the body, longitudinally disposed wind vanes contiguous to the condenser sections, a plurality of transversely disposed wind vanes between the longitudinal vanes, and pivoted near the cone denser sections, and means for moving said trans verse wind vanes on their pivots to control angle and direction of inclination thereof.

3. The combination with a movable vehicle, of a vehicle body steam condenser sections on the body, longitudinally disposed wind vanes contiguous to the condenser sections, a plurality of transversely disposed wind vanes between the longitudinal vanes, and pivoted near the condenser sections, and means operable from the interior of the vehicle for moving said transverse wind vanes and direction of inclination thereof.

4. The combination with a movable vehicle, of a vehicle body, steam condenser sections on the body, longitudinally disposed wind vanes contiguous to the condenser sections, a plurality of transversely disposed wind vanes between the longitudinal vanes, and pivoted near the condenser sections, means interconnecting all of said transverse vanes, and means for moving said interconnecting means for controlling the position of all of said transverse vanes.

5. The combination with a movable vehicle, of a vehicle body, steam condenser sections on the body, longitudinally disposed wind vanes contiguous to the condenser sections, a plurality of transversely disposed wind vanes between the longitudinal vanes, and pivoted near the condenser sections, means interconnecting the transverse vanes, an operating lever inside the ve hicle body, and connections between the operating lever and interconnecting means, whereby the direction and angle of inclination of said transverse vanes may be controlled from the interior of the vehicle body.

6. The combination with a movable vehicle, of a vehicle body, steam condenser sections on the body, longitudinally disposed wind vanes contiguous to the condenser sections, a plurality of transversely disposed wind vanes between the longitudinal vanes, and pivoted near the condenser sections, an operating rod extending the length of the sections, connections between the rod and said transverse vanes, and means for moving the rod to control the angle and direction of inclination of the vanes.

'7. The combination with a movable vehicle, of a vehicle body, steam condenser sections on the body, longitudinally disposed wind vanes contiguous to the condenser sections, a plurality of transversely disposed wind varies between the longitudinal vanes, and pivoted near the condenser sections, an operating rod extending the length of the sections, connections between the rod and said transverse vanes, an operating lever inside the vehicle, and connections from the operating lever to the rod, whereby said transverse vanes may be controlled from the inside of the vehicle.

8. The combination with a movable vehicle, of a vehicle body, steam condenser sections on the body, longitudinally disposed wind vanes contiguous to the condenser sections, a plurality of transversely disposed wind vanes between the longitudinal vanes, and pivoted near the condenser sections, an operating rod extending longitudinally of the sections, a rocking bar extending through the vehicle wall, an operating lever secured to the rocking bar on the interior of the vehicle, a gear segment secured to the rocking bar on the outside of the vehicle, a gear meshing with the gear segment, and connections from the gear to the vane operating rod, whereby turning of the gear controls said vanes.

9. The combination with a movable vehicle, of a vehicle body, steam condenser sections on the body, longitudinally disposed wind vanes contiguous to the condenser sections, a plurality of transversely disposed wind vanes between the longitudinal vanes, and pivoted near the condenser sections, an operating rod extending longitudinally of the sections, a rocking bar journaled in the vehicle Wall, an operating lever secured to the rocking bar on the interior of the vehicle, and connections from said rocking bar on the outside of the vehicle to said operating rod, whereby movement of said operating lever is effective to move said vanes.

CLYDE B. FAVERTY. 

